What is the biggest family owned business in the world?
James Craig
Published Feb 13, 2026
The World’s Top 750 Family Businesses Ranking
| Rank | Company | Family Owners |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart Inc. | Walton |
| 2 | Volkswagen AG | Piech and Porsche |
| 3 | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Buffett |
| 4 | Exor N.V. | Agnelli |
What is a publicly traded family owned business?
As the name suggests, a family-owned corporation is a business owned primarily or exclusively by family members. As a business grows, it can be challenging to run the business using only family members, and publicly traded corporations can remove significant control from the family members who founded the business.
Is Toyota a family-owned business?
To keep long-term shareholders loyal to Toyota even in times of crisis such as the one just discussed, the Toyoda family has maintained control of a group of core firms such as Toyota Motor, Toyota Industries and Denso, which own major shareholdings in each other’s stock.
Is a family business a corporation?
While corporate companies are known for having well-established internal structures, family-owned businesses oftentimes have a more flexible structure. They’re known to change and evolve along with family members and family values. And this connection to family values typically leads to a strong company culture.
How to give shares in the family company?
My wife and I own all the shares in our family trading company and would like to transfer shares to family members. My eldest son has been working in the business for 10 years and I would like to give him at least 20% of the business. My son isn’t able to pay for the shares. My wife and I would like to gift my son these shares.
How are family owned companies ranked in the world?
They are replaced by SK Holdings, Pacific Construction Group, China Evergrande Group, and Hanwha Corp. In order to qualify for the ranking, the family or group of families would have to control at least 50% of the voting shares in a privately held company and at least 32% of the voting rights in a publicly listed company.
How does a family investment company work in the UK?
The parents form a company limited by shares. They own one ‘A’ share each. Each ‘A’ shareholder has the right to appoint one director, and the right to vote at general meetings, but they have no entitlement to dividends or any return of capital. The children have one ‘B’ share each.
What makes a family owned company better than a corporation?
And this connection to family values typically leads to a strong company culture. In a family-owned company structure, you’ll find a shorter chain of command than you will with corporations. In some situations, you might be just one, two or three people away from the head of the company.
